Deal
Chelsea legend Michael Essien extends role with FC Nordsjaelland
Former Ghana and Chelsea star Michael Essien has extended his coaching contract with Danish Superligaen side FC Nordsjaelland until 2023. According to FC Nordsjaelland manager Flemming Pedersen the former Real Madrid enforcer has lived up to expectations on the touchline much to the delight of the technical handlers and he is now certain of continuing his cherished coaching role at the Right to Dream Park. “Michael Essien has chosen to extend with us until the summer of 2023. We have just looked at each other in the first year, but it has been a no-brainer for him, and he told me that he likes to be here,” Pedersen confirmed Essien’s new deal to Sn.dk as quoted by kickgh.com. “We need Michael, and he gets even more focus on the individual focus. Both on the field, but also off. He can give...
Plateau council poll: PDP accuses PLASIEC of plotting to exclude party in election
File Photo The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Plateau State, has raised the alarm over plan by Plateau State Independent Electoral Commission (PLASIEC) to exclude the party from the October, 2021 Local Government Election in the state. Secretary, PDP Caretaker Committee, Plateau State, Hon. Patrick Ogbu disclosed this on Friday during a press briefing in Jos and vowed that the party will resist such attempt. He noted that the Caretaker Committee was drafted to the state following a court judgment that ordered fresh State Congress to elect officers of the party and on resumption, the committee invited PLASIEC to participate in their up coming local government party primaries but didn’t show up. “Based on the election guidelines and timetable released by PLASIEC, our great party in line wit...
NAFDAC tasks stakeholders on drug abuse eradication
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has stressed the need for all stakeholders to work together towards eradicating the menace of drug abuse in the country. Prof. Moji Adeyeye, NAFDAC Director General, made the call on Tuesday in Abuja, at the 3rd National Youth conference on drug abuse, organised by Centre for Ethical Rebirth among Nigerian Youth (CERANY), an . Represented by the agency’s Director, Narcotics and Controlled Substances, Mr Musa Umar, she said all hands must be on deck to find solutions to the problem of drug abuse, adding that all should be determined to eradicate the scourge. According to her, the problem of drug abuse concerns everybody, saying cooperations must be strengthened to decisively deal with the problem. “Of all the crises f...
White House: No plans for Joe Biden to meet new Iranian leader
There are currently no plans for U.S. President Joe Biden to meet with Iran’s newly elected leader, according to the White House, which downplayed Ebrahim Raisi’s influence. Raisi, a strident critic of the West, will take over from pragmatist Hassan Rouhani on Aug. 3 after an election on Friday. In a news conference on Monday, he backed talks to salvage a tattered nuclear deal with Washington but ruled out personally meeting with Biden. read more White House press secretary Jen Psaki said on Monday that little had changed because Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is the key decision maker in Tehran. “We don’t currently have any diplomatic relations with Iran or any plans to meet at the leader level,” she told reporters. “Our view is that the decision maker here is the Supreme Leader.” ...
Bishop Oyedepo: We must deal with social media monster
President, Living Faith Church (Winners Chapel), Bishop David Oyedepo, has urged the government and well-meaning Nigerians to deal with the monster of social media. Bishop Oyedepo called for an urgent step to device means of checking free and unhindered access to social media. He added that the present generation may lose her heroes to social media disaster, adding that “we must wake up from our slumber to deal with this monster.” The clergyman made the call at the weekend during the seventh convocation ceremony of Landmark University, Omu-Aran, Irepodun local government area. 46 students of the institution graduated with first-class honours in the 2021 academic session He spoke on “combating the challenge of education without integration”. Oyedepo said putting measures to check free acces...
WHO: 146 million Africans die yearly from tobacco-related diseases
The World Health Organisation has revealed that no fewer than 146 million Africans die annually from tobacco related disease. Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa said this on Thursday during a virtual press conference. Moeti said tobacco was the leading cause of preventable deaths in the world and emphasised that “smoking damages nearly every organ in the body.” The director also said that “globally, exposure to secondhand smoke kills more than 1.2 million people yearly.” She explained that the use of tobacco products other than cigarettes, such as vaporizers, was on the increase in Africa. Moeti said that quitting tobacco was the way to reduce the risk of developing cancer, heart disease, stroke and other diseases, noting that it would also increase one’s life expectancy...
Manchester United identify Alexander Isak as Erling Braut Haaland alternative
Manchester United have identified Alexander Isak as an alternative target to Borussia Dortmund striker Erling Haaland this summer, The Star reports. The Red Devils recently committed Edinson Cavani to a new contract, but they are still searching for a quality young striker to add to their ranks. They have been heavily linked with Dortmund, but a deal appears unlikely with the Bundesliga outfit having no plans to sanction his sale. Haaland has a release clause worth £68 million in his contract, but that does not become active until the end of the 2021/22 campaign. It is now reported that the club have a ‘Plan B’, and could look to swoop for the services of Isak, who is currently contracted with Real Sociedad. Isak had another promising season with Sociedad last term, registering 17 goals an...
Sergio Ramos to leave Real Madrid this summer
Real Madrid have confirmed that club captain Sergio Ramos will leave this summer. Ramos, 35, is out of contract at Real this summer, and had been expected to sign a new deal. The centre-back’s usual summer transfer dalliances with the likes of Manchester United have usually been a smokescreen to negotiate better terms at the Bernabeu. However, this time Ramos is officially on the lookout for a new club, with the defender leaving the team he has been with since 2005. Ramos arrived at the Bernabeu 16 years ago following a switch from Sevilla and went on to have a glittering career. He won five La Liga titles, four Champions League crowns as well as the Copa Del Rey twice. It was during his time in the Spanish capital that he also won the 2010 World Cup with Spain along with back-to-back Euro...
VP Osinbajo: Let’s focus on empowering our compatriots living with albinism
As a people, and in our communities, it is paramount to have conversations around the safety and enablement of our citizens who live with Albinism according to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN. He made this known at a virtual event, attended by a number of distinguished personalities including diplomats such as the American Ambassador to Nigeria, Mary Beth Leonard, marking the World Albinism Day themed: “Strength Beyond All Odds”, on Sunday, 13th of June, 2021. According to the VP, “there is a need to see it for what it is, a genetic difference not a contagious disease or a public health problem.” In dealing with the various challenges faced by the albinism community, Prof Osinbajo stated the need to “have frank and robust conversations around the protection and empowerment of our compatr...
Caroline Danjuma: I regret dragging Davido over Tagbo’s death
Nigerian actress, Caroline Danjuma, says she wished her rift with popular music star Davido never occurred. The movie star disclosed this on her Instagram page on Saturday as she reminisced on her past as she clocks 34. “Concerning David, I wish such never happened between us he is really a cool guy, I wish him nothing short of favor and undiluted success always ( I equally love the song fia ),” she wrote. She also talked about facing cyberbullies for years saying that she has devised a means to deal with and handle bullies on social media. “I was bullied all through my marriage by social media (12 years of bullying) .. why did I marry my grandfather (my choice not yours), I stole someone’s husband (no one came out to claim him),” she wrote. “Now I am immune to your bullying and harsh word...
Inter Miami owner ‘optimistic’ that Leo Messi will join in the future
Inter Miami owner Jorge Mas believes his side will be able to land Barcelona star Lionel Messi in the future. Messi’s contract with Barcelona will expire at the end of this month and the club is desperately trying to tie down the 33-year-old to a new deal. Various reports have stated that Messi’s potential Barca extension would include a provision for him to play two more seasons in Spain, then move to Inter Miami in 2023. Mas confirmed that he and Inter Miami co-owner David Beckham have been involved in talks to bring Messi to Florida. “David and I have been working really hard, we have aspirations of bringing the best players here and Leo Messi is a generational player, arguably the best player of all time,” Mas told the Miami Herald. “I am optimistic Messi will play in an Inter Miami sh...
Taiwan reports largest incursion yet by Chinese air force
Twenty-eight Chinese air force aircraft, including fighters and nuclear-capable bombers, entered Taiwan’s air defence identification zone (ADIZ) on Tuesday, the island’s government said, the largest reported incursion to date. While there was no immediate comment from Beijing, the news comes after the Group of Seven leaders issued a joint statement on Sunday scolding China for a series of issues and underscored the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, comments China condemned as “slander”. Chinese-claimed Taiwan has complained over the last few months of repeated missions by China’s air force near the self-ruled island, concentrated in the southwestern part of its air defence zone near the Taiwan-controlled Pratas Islands. The latest Chinese mission involved 14 J-16 ...